Security tightened ahead of Tamil Nadu polls

Chennai, Apr 12 (ANI): Elaborate security arrangements have been made to ensure free and fair polls in Tamil Nadu tomorrow.

Beside state police, 240 companies of central paramilitary forces are being deployed across the state for the polls.

All sensitive polling booths have been placed under live camera surveillance since electronic voting machines are being placed on Tuesday.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has reiterated that if any political party is found bribing voters, strict action would be taken against them.

Addressing mediapersons here, Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Kumar said the major challenge before the Election Commission was to stop the doling out of cash for votes.

“Here is the reported challenge we had, we heard was that there may be distribution of money so most of the actions were geared towards that to how to stop the flow of illegal money to the voters. So, we have been working on that, we have had so success but still more to go,” he added.

He mentioned that the Election Commission had received complaints of violation of moral code of conduct by the members of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).

The Election Commission has issued relevant notices to the concerned parties, he said.

Regional parties dominate the political scene in Tamil Nadu. The DMK and the AIADMK have alternatively been in power in the state for varying tenures.

The Congress party held only 34 seats in the outgoing assembly while the DMK won the majority of seats in the 2006 elections. (ANI)